East Falls Church Planning Study

1
East Falls Church Planning Study

• Presentation to the
• Williamsburg Civic Association
• by
• Mark Moran
• President, WCA
• November 27, 2007

efcpsStatusToWca2007-11c.ppt
2
Acknowledgements

• Richard Tucker, Staff Coordinator, Arlington Co.
• Consultant team
• Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
• Nelson/Nygaard
• Louis Scully Gionet

3
References

• East Falls Church Planning Study (EFCPS) web site
• http//www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/CPHD/forums/
  columbia/current/CPHDForumsEastFallsChurch.aspx
• Consultant web site (Kimley-Horn)
• ftp//fallschurchplanning_at_www.kimley-horn.com/_se
  cure/East-Falls-Church

4
Purpose and scope

• The purpose of the East Falls Church Planning
  Study (EFCPS) is to generate a vision for
  transit-oriented development in the East Falls
  Church area of Arlington County
• There are two phases to this study
• Land use vision development and
• Transportation planning
• The land-use vision should take the form of a
  concept plan with a policy framework that focuses
  on targeted sites, including the East Falls
  Church Metro parking lot and other sites that are
  likely to redevelop.
• The process could result in changes to the
  General Land Use Plan (GLUP) and/or zoning changes

5
Conduct of the study

• The land use visioning will be led by planners
  from both Arlington County and the City of Falls
  Church.
• The staff team will be guided by a citizen Task
  Force comprised of representatives from both
  jurisdictions.
• Representatives from the Virginia Department of
  Transportation (VDOT) and the Washington
  Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) will
  also participate
• WMATA and VDOT will be key participants in both
  the land use and transportation analyses, since
  they are major landowners who control important
  pieces of the transportation infrastructure,
  including the Metrorail station, the parking
  lots, Interstate 66, and several state-owned
  arterial roadways.

6
Land use visioning

• The goal of the visioning exercise is to develop
  a concept plan that will set height, density, use
  mix, and urban design standards for areas in the
  Arlington Co. portion of the study area,
  particularly in areas likely to redevelop (e.g.,
  the Metro parking lot)
• The City of Falls Church 2005 Comprehensive Plan
  will be used as the guide for the sites within
  the City of Falls Church.

7
Transportation planning analysis

• After a preliminary land use plan has been
  developed for the identified sites within the
  East Falls Church area, the two jurisdictions
  will use a transportation consultant to analyze
  issues related to the transportation
  infrastructure
• The transportation analysis will
• Analyze access to the Metro station pedestrian,
  bicycle, and vehicular
• Analyze station capacity and recommend
  infrastructure, streetscape and other public
  improvements to create an urban, walkable, and
  accessible mixed-use environment within this
  area.
• The transportation portion of the study will be
  completed with grant funds received from the
  VDOTs Multimodal Planning Grant Program.

8
Final product

• A final Concept Plan and Policy Framework will be
  developed and presented to the Arlington County
  Board and City of Falls Church City Council for
  adoption upon completion of the project
• Should take about 12 to 18 months (Sept. 2007 to
  fall 2008 or spring 2009)

9
EFC Planning Study Task Force(17 members)

• Arlington East Falls Church Civic Association(4
  members, including Committee Chairman)
• Madison Manor Civic Association (1 member)
• Williamsburg Civic Association (1 member)
• Planning Commission (1 member)
• Transportation Commission (1 member)
• Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
  WMATA(1 member)
• Virginia Department of Transportation VDOT (1
  member)
• At-large Arlington Community Representatives (up
  to 5 members)
• City of Falls Church (2 members)
• In addition, one County Board member will be
  selected as a liaison to the planning process

10
EFC Planning Study Task Force

• Arlington Co. Board appointees
• Arlington East Falls Church Civic Association
• Mike Nardolilli, Task Force Chair
• John Wilson
• Alan Parker
• Tim Reese (Barbara DePauw alternate)
• Madison Manor Civic Association
• Varun Nikore
• Williamsburg Civic Association
• Mark Moran
• Planning Commission
• Lisa Chavez
• Transportation Commission
• Franz Gimmler
• At-large Arlington Representatives
• Bob Dunphy
• John Kinney

• Nancy Iacomini
• Anthony (Tony) Jones (Economic Development
  Commission)
• Thanna Schemmel (Pedestrian Advisory Committee)
• City of Falls Church Appointees
• Suzanne Fauber (Planning Commission)
• Don Rea (Gresham Place HOA President)
• Other
• Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
  WMATA
• Scott Peterson
• Virginia Department of Transportation VDOT
• Valerie Pardo

11
Charge of the Task Force

1. Help to identify issues and sites to be addressed
   in the study
2. Review transportation impacts and alternatives.
   Review recommendations regarding transportation
   improvements.
3. Give input on conceptual plans and alternatives
   developed by staff for redevelopment of the East
   Falls Church Metro Station area and certain other
   key properties within close proximity to the
   Metro station.
4. Assist staff in developing recommendations to the
   County Board on the Final Concept Plan and Policy
   Framework.

12
Study area
13
Timeline, 1 of 2

• September 2007
• Kick-off meeting Wednesday, September 26th at
  700 pm at Fire Station 6
• Discuss study scope, schedule for Task Force and
  public participation
• October 2007 February 2008
• Nov Walking tour of study area
• Review recommendations from previous studies and
  documents, such as the Virginia Tech East Falls
  Church Metro Area Plan (2004), the WMATA East
  Falls Church Station Access Study (2002), and the
  AEFCCA Metro Survey (2005). 
• Review draft concepts and alternatives.
• Discuss scope of transportation analysis with
  staff.
• Refine concepts based on Task Force comments and
  feedback.
• Discuss urban design, streetscape, pedestrian and
  bicycle improvements.
•  February/March 2008
• Assist with providing updates to and soliciting
  feedback from affected civic associations,
  Advisory Boards, and interested citizens.
• Hold community-wide forum(s)
• Provide interim concepts for review

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Timeline, 2 of 2

• March July 2008
• Review results of transportation analysis and
  recommend revisions to preliminary redevelopment
  concepts and alternatives.
• Provide input on final urban design
  recommendations for the general area.
• Work with staff to develop an implementation
  strategy for achieving the vision.
• September 2008
• Staff works with Task Force with staff to develop
  final recommendations for County Board review and
  approval.
• Staff works with Task Force to prepare
  presentations for Planning and Transportation
  Commissions. 
• October 2008 December 2008
• Seek final comments from civic associations,
  Advisory Boards, and interested citizens.
• Staff works with Task Force to prepare
  presentations for Planning and Transportation
  Commissions. 
• County Board review and adoption.

15
Meetings

• We have had three meetings to date
• Wed., Sept. 26 at 700 PM at Fire Station 6
  (Kickoff meeting)
• Wed., Oct. 24 at 700 PM at Fire Station 6
• Sat., Nov. 3 walking tour of area (830 AM to
  noon)
• Next meeting
• Wed., Dec. 12 at 700 PM at Fire Station 6
• 6950 Little Falls Road, 22207. Main entrance is
  actually on Lee Hwy/Washington St. at Gresham
  Place.
• Public is invited to attend any meetings

16
Interaction between WCA and Task Force

• I will give status reports as the study moves
  forward, potentially at each WCA general
  membership meeting
• I welcome input from WCA membership
• My preferred way to get input is via e-mail
  (pres_at_wca-arlington.org)
• I will transmit WCA input to the EFC Planning
  Study Task Force
• Other ways to stay informed
• Attend EFC TF meetings (anyone is allowed to
  attend)
• Visit the EFC Planning Study web site
  (http//www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/CPHD/forums
  /columbia/current/CPHDForumsEastFallsChurch.aspx)

17
Thank you.

• Questions?